Innoschool 2009 innovation event for school pupils

The Innoschool Innovation Event is part of the Innofinland Project. The aim of Innoschool is to promote creativity, inventiveness, enterprise and a sense of achievement among comprehensive school pupils and vocational institute students.

Innoschool 2009 Innovation Event

In 2009, the Innovation Event for school pupils was carried out for the tenth time. In the comprehensive school category, new ideas were created by first and second grade pupils in Åland and the Kokkola region. In the contest for vocational institutes, final projects of students in the Kokkola region were judged this year.

Mr Timo Lankinen, Director General of the Finnish National Board of Education, and Mr Risto Suominen, Director of Federation of Finnish Enterprises, presented the Innoschool Prizes and honorary diplomas at the Innofinland awards ceremony on 15 December 2009 at the auditorium of the National Board of Patents and Registration of Finland (NBPR).

INNOSCHOOL PRIZE 2009

VOCATIONAL INSTITUTES:

Caroliina Karlström, Maria Matikainen, Heidi Niemi and Sini Rahkonen, Kokkola Vocational Institute
(1,200 euros and honorary diploma)
Final project: ‘Medieval feast’
A special and unforgettable theme dinner for restaurant customers, including a delicious menu with inventive names of dishes, the restaurant setting and costumes.

Tomme Pöyhtäri, Central Ostrobothnia Rural Institute, Unit of Kannus
(1,000 euros and honorary diploma)
Final project: Loader for ATV forest trailers
An inexpensive loader designed and manufactured for ATV forest trailers. The loader makes it possible to load heavy goods and timber in confined spaces.

COMPREHENSIVE SCHOOLS, first and second grades - six equal prizes:
(100 euros and honorary diploma)

Maria Aaltonen, Källbo School, 1 C, Finström, Åland
Brush machine: the brush machine makes a hairdo once you have chosen the hairdo using the machine’s buttons.

Elis Lindblom, Lumparland School, 2nd grade, Lumparland
Picking robot: a stick controlled robot that picks apples for old people.

Jesper Sundberg, Källbo School, 1-2 B, Finström, Åland
Radio-controlled rope: the rope ties the knots automatically.

Jack Sundström, Källbo School, 1-2 A, Finström, Åland
Happiness machine: if someone is unhappy, the machine produces words making him or her happy again: ‘You’re my best friend – don’t be unhappy.’

Emilia Toivonen, Milja Korkiakangas and Petra Isoaho, Kaustari School, 2nd grade, Kokkola
Bed which can be made smaller or bigger: when the bed is made smaller, you can put it into your pocket when you sleep over at a friend’s house.

Rene Ojala and Jere Kalliokoski, Kaustari School, 2nd grade, Kokkola
Machine for producing electricity: a swing collecting electricity into an electricity collector – the more the children swing, the more electricity it will produce.

Innoschool is backed up by the Finnish National Board of Education, NBPR, and INNOFINLAND.

Further information on the prizewinners:
Mr Timo Suokas, Project Manager, Innofinland, tel. +358 (0)9 6939 5308, mob. +358 (0)40 772 1733, email timo.suokas (at) prh.fi
Ms Leena Puolimatka, Project Secretary, Innofinland, tel. +358 (0)9 6939 5239, mob. +358 (0)40 546 0125, email leena.puolimatka (at) prh.fi
Mr Juha Klemola, Director of Communications and Community Relations, NBPR, tel. +358 (0)9 6939 5800, email juha.klemola (at) prh.fi